INTERNATIONAL — March 25, 2026
Trump Postpones Iran Warning, Announces 'Constructive' Negotiations
U.S. President Donald Trump postponed a strike warning to Iran, announced "constructive" negotiations, and revealed contact with a highly respected Iranian figure identified by Israeli media as parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf. Regional diplomacy has ramped up with potential talks in Islamabad and confirmations from Britain.
The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Hasht-e Subh — 2 min read
U.S. President Donald Trump announced he has postponed a warning to Iran for another five days and described negotiations with the Islamic Republic as "constructive" and "intense." He stated that if the talks fail, bombing of Iran would continue, without specifying whether power plants would be among the next targets.
Trump also admitted contact with a "highly respected" person in Iran, whom Israeli media identified as Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, speaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly.
Regional diplomatic activity has intensified. Axios reported that Iranian and U.S. sides may hold negotiations in Islamabad by the end of the week. Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a phone call with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. Britain confirmed awareness of the Iran-U.S. talks.
Qalibaf denied reports of a scheduled meeting with U.S. Vice President JD Vance in a post on his X account.
The developments come amid reports of recent assassination of Ali Larijani, a figure trusted by Iran's leadership, and ongoing war conditions, including references to a prior 12-day war. Iranian officials have maintained ambiguity on direct negotiations with the U.S., citing internal sensitivities.
Read the original reporting at Hasht-e Subh →
Reliability assessment
Single source with direct attributions to on-record statements by named officials (Trump's announcements, Qalibaf's X denial) and citations to specific media reports (Axios, Israeli media, Britain confirmation).
The source language mixes facts with framing or advocacy wording. Hasht-e Subh: "Qalibaf apparently has buckled down to manage both (diplomacy and the field)" - speculative assertion of internal power consolidation; "his rhetoric resembles IRGC rhetoric more than that of a parliament representative" - opinionated characterization implying militaristic bias; "it is natural that peace also depends on his satisfaction" - advocacy framing Qalibaf as pivotal gatekeeper with loaded inevitability.
Independent web corroboration
A separate web search returned 8 matching reports. A selection:
- Iran's parliamentary speaker Qalibaf is floated as a possible US contact in talks as war ragesapnews.com
With the war in its fourth week after the joint U.S-Israeli strikes on Iran started last month, the 64-year-old pilot and former Revolutionary Guard commander has denied that there have been discussions with the United States amid reports that he was floated as Washington’s negotiating partner in talks.
- Iran’s parliament speaker: the outsider seen by White House as possible partner | Iran | The Guardiantheguardian.com
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who has threatened the US, is being weighed up as potential interlocutor to help end war
- Iran's hardline parliament speaker Mohammed Qalibaf enters spotlight amid reported US talks | The Times of Israeltimesofisrael.com
Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, is taking a more central role, as Israeli and US strikes pick off the Islamic Republic’s political leadership, making him a critical figure at a decisive moment.
- ‘We're in the testing phase’: Trump admin eyeing Iran’s parliament speaker as US-backed leaderpolitico.com
“It seems like posturing, like he’s trying to speak something into existence,” said one person close to the president’s national security team... “It’s good if talks are happening through an intermediary"},{
Across the newsrooms
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Hasht-e Subh
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International — Donald Trump, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Iran-US negotiations, Pakistan, JD Vance
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